Staff
The N.W.O. All-Stars PeeWee ‘AAA’ hockey team, which features seven players from Fort Frances, had a strong performance in its first tournament this past weekend, finishing in fourth place at the Tournament of Champions in Brandon, Man.
In the ‘B’-side final against the Portage Terriers on Sunday morning, the All-Stars peppered their opponent’s net with 38 shots but were unable to solve goalie Justin Klassen en route to a 3-0 setback.
Local goalie Parker Orchard got the start for the regional squad and made 10 saves, but was saddled with the loss.
The All-Stars advanced to the ‘B’-side final with a convincing 6-0 win Saturday night over the Lumsden Bethune Lions from Saskatchewan.
Among the local players, Cole Tymkin led the way with a goal and an assist, with Brett Hahkala also hitting the twine.
Lauren Vold and Hunter Koles also contributed with an assist each.
In the four-game round-robin, the All-Stars posted a 1-2-1 record, with their lone win coming against the Lions on Thursday night by a score of 4-0.
Noah Loveday and Hahkala both had a goal and an assist in the victory, with Hunter Koles also lighting the lamp and Tymkin adding an assist.
The All-Stars dropped a 4-2 decision to the Morden Hawks on Friday morning despite a two-assist performance from Tymkin, but bounced back with a 4-4 draw against the Brandon Wheat Kings that night.
In the game against the Wheat Kings, there was an all-Fort Frances connection on the tying goal as Koles’ shot found the back of the net thanks to help from Hahkala and Ian Tookenay.
Then in their final round-robin contest Saturday afternoon, the regional squad fell 5-1 to the Weyburn Young Fellows, where Tymkin had an assist.
Next up for the squad will be the Hockey Northwestern Ontario championship, which takes place March 16-18 in Thunder Bay.
The winner of that tournament, which also will feature the Thunder Bay Kings and Schreiber North Stars, then goes on to compete at the Ontario showdown April 9-14 in Waterloo.
